What Iván Cantero (-13) did today at the Glendower Golf Club in Johannesburg is not common and deserves a lot of credit. In fact, it ranks high in the catalogue of complicated things in golf. In that list, we could suggest the inclusion of leaving a 45-meter bunker shot given, making two putts from 20 meters downhill and with the grain in favour, winning two consecutive weeks, chaining two victories in the same tournament, keeping the glove dry on a rainy day or signing a great round of golf the day after making the best of your life. The latter is what the Asturian has done in the second round of the Jonsson Workwear Open. It’s not quite a feat, but almost.
Cantero handed in a card of 67 strokes this Friday and has placed himself in the third position of the tournament that closes the tour through Africa. He is tied with Ángel Hidalgo and two strokes behind Matteo Manassero (-15), the sole leader. He has managed to give continuity to the fabulous 64 he signed on Thursday and which put him leading a tournament of the DP World Tour for the first time in his career. Needless to say, these are also his best first 36 holes ever on the European circuit.
If you still have any doubt that what the Llanisco is doing these two days is very special, we will give you another fact: he is by far the best of the tournament of the 78 golfers of his shift, that is, those who have played on Thursday morning and Friday afternoon. He is the true king of his pack. He takes three strokes from the next ones who, moreover, are already out of the top 10: Jacques Kruyswijk, Hurly Long and Sam Baristow. All with -10. And none of them has played as late today as Iván. It is clear that this week this shift is the most disadvantaged and yet, Cantero is fighting for the first place.
Cantero started the day like a rocket. He managed to erase and start anew from what happened yesterday and in two holes he was already with a partial of three less, with a birdie on the 10th and an eagle on the 11th. From there, his round has been more roller coaster, but winning the match to the field. He has made three birdies and one more eagle and two bogeys. His partial in the par 5s is eight under par. “I started the day very well, with a good drive and a good birdie putt on the 10th, good drive also on the 11th, par 5, and 8 iron second that I left given. I played well, three putts on the 14th, a bit silly, birdie on the 16th leaving it two meters, shot on the 17th to a meter and a half for eagle. It was a controlled round, hitting well from the tee. A pity that I missed the fairway on the last two par 5s, but similar feelings, hitting well and playing well”, he assures to Ten Golf.
Iván, whatever happens over the weekend, has managed for the second time in his career to link three consecutive cuts on the European circuit and his average of strokes in the last ten rounds is 69.7.
The other Spaniard who played this Friday afternoon, Santi Tarrio (-7), is in 33rd place, well positioned four strokes from the top 10 after signing a card of 70 strokes. The Galician is having a very solid start to the season, although he is left with the bittersweet taste of not having been higher up in the tournaments, fighting some Sunday to win. He has it difficult this weekend in South Africa, but not impossible. As a goal for the moving day it sounds very good, especially considering that after this tournament he will take a well-deserved five-week vacation.
The cut was established with a lot of suspense at -4. A total of thirteen players have finished tied in 65th place and will play the weekend.
